Link feed apron



DBZHJH uu I W 2.476.791

p 1947. R. L. SJOSTROM 2,426,794

LINK FEED APRON Filed March 20, 1945 Patented Sept. 2, 1947 oearcn UUl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to link feed aprons and in particular to the type used in the textile industry as a conveyor of loose lint, fibers or the like but the invention may also be applied to other types of uses where fiber masses are to be broken up prior to calendering or prior to being used in other processes.

The invention is, further, an improvement over my prior patent, No. 2,258,035, issued October 7, 1941.

In the present invention special attention is given to the interlocking of the links with one another so that the apron may travel and hinge freely without frictional stresses being set up in the hinges or joints or in the machinery with which it is used. One of the diiiiculties with link feed aprons of the prior art is that in certain positions which the links take in their travel, deformation stresses may be impressed on the sheet metal of the links by particles of foreign materials wedging in between bearing surfaces by loose fits between links and by other causes. Where the links are comparatively free and loose, the joints may jam together at some positions in the travel of the links around the drums, gears or pulleys in which they are used, causing deformation. Deformation due to these causes and also to the working of the links against the materials being conveyed are apt to wear out the apron quickly, causing stoppage or damage to the machinery.

A further difficulty encountered is that the metal in the links is ordinarily not sufiiciently strong to hold in position the spikes or pins which the apron carries. These spikes are comparatively large and if the links are made of sheet material such as rolled stock of ordinary thickmess, the spikes, in catching into the material, may bend the link and therefore bend the links out of their proper shape.

In the present invention these difficulties are overcome. The joints of successive links are interlocked with one another to provide a large, clean bearing surface. The pressure is evenly distributed in this manner and held at a minimum so that there is a minimum of wear in the joint at the links. Further, the joints are closed at all points in their motion so as to prevent particles from coming between the bearing surfaces of the joints. This improvement is effected by the particular design of the joint section of the links, details of which will be more fully explained in the specification below.

A further advantage is obtained in the present invention by the novel mounting of the pins in such a manner that the material of the link itself aids in maintaining the pins supported in their proper position.

Further advantages and improvements in the present invention will be more readily understood from the description in the specification below when taken in connection with the drawings showing an embodiment of the same in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a pair of links joined and forming a portion of the link feed apron.

Figure 2 shows a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows in modified form an enlarged section corresponding to Figure 2.

The arrangement shown in Figure 1 corresponds in general form to that shown in Figure 1 of my prio-r patent, I representing the links which may be of any desired length as, for instance, 2 feet, 3 feet or more, each link being preferably made from metal sheets which may be hot or cold rolled through die rollers or the like.

The links themselves may be of a fiat or bent type with considerable length between the joint sections 2 and 3 or with only a short space between the joints, as more or less indicated in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows in somewhat enlarged form the construction of the joint sections. Each link 4 of Figure 3 is provided at one end with an arcuate section 5 for approximately 210. The angle of the sector may be somewhat less than this, if desired. However, it should be of such a degree of arc that in the limiting position of the link 4 the end edge 6 of the sector 5 still remains in contact with the siuface of the preceding link. The other end of the link 4 is also provided with an arcuate section I which has the same center as that of the are 5 and which also is given an inner radius 8 equal to the outer radius 9 of the arc 5. The angle of the arc I is preferably somewhat less than the measure of this are being approximately equal to the permissible angular rotation between successive links. The dotted line position in Figure 3, as indicated by the lines I0 and II, shows the position of the link 4 in its other limit of motion.

The link (right joint as viewed in Figure 3) is also provided with a second arcuate section I! also concentric with the other arcs having the same, center at 0, this are being approximately 180 and having an external radius I3 equal to the internal radius of the arc or sector 5. The two arcuate sections I and I2 are joined together by a fiat section M which is substantially tangential to the section I2 at its end so that the external edge of the section I4 is substantially outside of the circle formed by the radius Ill.

The flat section I 4 in the limiting position of the links is substantially parallel to the flat portion of the link and comes into a face-to-face contact with the link along a considerable contiguous edge. The body portion l5 of the link of Figure 3 has a section of its metal 18 bent backward at an angle, forming a perforation or opening I! through which the long pin or spike I8 is inserted and positioned, with one side of the pin bearing against the surface of the bent backward portion 16 which forms a support for it. The pin I8 has an eyelet l9 formed at its end and this eyelet is bent at an angle to lie fiat against the portion l of the link. A rivet 20 holds the pin in position. This rivet passes through the eyelet I9 and through a perforation 2| which has upstanding side flanges formed of the punched out hole in the wall portion of the link. The rivet 20 may be of the split type with the flanges 22 bent over at an angle to clamp the pin firmly in place. The motion of the apron is in the direction of the arrow A so that the pin I8 is backed by the supporting bracket 16 when it comes in contact with the material through which it passes.

In the arrangement of Figure 3, each link is shown with a fiat section between the two end junctions. In the arrangement in Figure 2, each link is provided with sections bent at an angle, as indicated by B. This angle between the portions 23 and 24 of the links will be selected according to the function which the link apron is intended to perform. In such a case the supporting bracket 25, corresponding to the bracket IS in Figure 3, will be bent backward at an angle to form a substantial continuation of the portion 24 of the link. The pin 26 will lie against the supporting bracket 25 and pass through a hole 21 positioned near the bend between the sections 23 and 24 of the link. The eyelet 28 will then lie in the same plane as the pin 26 and be fastened in a position fiat against the section 24 of the link by means of the rivet 29. The travel of the apron will be in the same direction as that in Figure 3, namely, in the direction of the arrow A.

The operation of the invention is the same as that described in connection with my prior patent insofar as its use and application is concerned. Various types of sprocket bars or driving wheels may be used to interlock with the links of the apron and the links. As has been stated, the links may be fiat or bent at an angle, as indicated by the modification of Figure 2.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A link feed apron comprising a plurality of links formed of metallic sheet material, each having opposite side marginal members interlocking in a continuous chain, said links along one side being formed with an arcuate sector of approximately 210 and along the other side being formed with terminal and second arcuate sectors joined by a flat section, the curvature of the outer surface of the terminal sector and the inner surface of the second sector being the same and having respectively are lengths to engage the outer surface of the first mentioned arcuate sector and the inner surface of said sector for a total arc length corresponding to approximately 210.

2. 1 link feed apron comprising a plurality of flat faced links formed of metallic sheet material, each having opposite side marginal members interlocking in a continuous chain, said links along one side being formed with an arcuate sector and along the other side being formed with terminal and second arcuate sectors joined by a flat section, the curvature of the outer surface of the terminal sector and the inner surface of the second sector being the same and corresponding to the curvature of the inner surface along the first 4 side said first mentioned arcuate section having an angle length sufflceint when rotated to engage fully said second arcuate sector as the fiat section engages the fiat face of the link.

3. A link feed apron comprising a plurality of 1 links formed of metallic sheet material, each having opposite side marginal members interlocking in a continuous chain, said links along one side being formed with an arcuate sector and along the other side being formed with terminal and second arcuate sectors joined by a fiat section, the curvature of the outer surface of the terminal sector and the inner surface of the second sector being the same and corresponding to the curvature of the inner surface along the first side, the first and terminal arcuate sectors being substantially 210 and 180 respectively of arc and the second arcuate sector being somewhat less than of arc.

4. A link feed apron comprising a plurality of fiat faced links formed of metallic sheet material, each having opposite side marginal members interlocking in a continuous chain, said links along one side being formed with an arcuate sector and along the other side being formed with terminal and second arcuate sectors joined by a fiat section, the curvature of the outer surface of the terminal sector and the inner surface of the second sector being the same, said first mentioned sector having a sufliciently long are whereby within its limits of motion established by engagement of the fiat section with the fiat face of the link the interlocking joint is always closed.

5. A link feed apron comprising a plurality of links formed of sheet metal having interlocking side sections forming a continuous chain, said links having body portions between their interlocking sides, a plurality of pins each provided with a clamping base element formed as an eyelet of the stock end of the pin, the stock of the pin passing through a perforation in said sheet metal, and means clamping the pin at its base element to the surface of the sheet, the material of said sheet being turned up from the same where the pin passes through and forming sid support for said pin.

6. A link feed apron comprising a plurality of links formed of sheet metal having interlocking side sections forming a continuous Chain, said links having two body portions between their interlocking sides inclined at an angle to one another, a plurality of pins each provided with a clamping base element formed as an eyelet of the stock end of the pin, the stock of the pin passing through a perforation near the junction of the inclined portions of said sheet metal, and means clamping the pin at its base element to the surface of one portion of said sheet, the material of the other portion of the sheet being turned up from the same where the pin passes through and forming side support for said pin.

ROBERT L. SJOSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,183 Palen et al. Feb. 6, 1917 1,718,150 Hurxthal et a1 June 18, 1929 2,258,035 Sjostrom Oct. 7, 1941 

